Does a notarized document need to have a seal?
Asked by: Mr. Charley Pouros PhD | Last update: January 16, 2026Score: 4.6/5 (51 votes)
All 50 states require public notaries to place their respective stamp on documents as a means to finalize and authenticate the service. Without this stamp, the document is not legally notarized.
Does a notarized document need a seal?
States That Require an Embossed Notary Seal
As of June 2024, only Colorado and Idaho have this as a firm requirement across the board for all notarizations. A few other states, like California and Illinois, give notaries public the option to choose between an embossed seal or a rubber notary stamp.
What is the most common mistake made by a notary?
One of the most common mistakes that notaries make is not printing or signing their name exactly as it appears on their notary commission.
What makes a notarized document valid?
A notary seal verifies a document's authenticity. If this seal is missing or incorrect, the document becomes invalid. For example, the seal must include the notary's name, commission number, and expiration date. States like California and Texas have specific requirements for the placement and design of the seal.
Can a document be notarized without a signature?
Most states require the signer to physically sign a document before a notary.
How to Prepare for Your First Notarization
Can I notarize something without a stamp?
All 50 states require public notaries to place their respective stamp on documents as a means to finalize and authenticate the service. Without this stamp, the document is not legally notarized.
Is notarized legally binding?
The notary acts as an impartial witness, verifying the identity of those signing and ensuring they understand what they are signing. Notarization adds a layer of trust and credibility to the document but does not automatically make it legally binding.
How do I verify a notarized document?
You can trust the notary's identity because it's been verified by the certificate issuer and embedded within the certificate. To verify an online notarization, you need to check the validity of the notary's digital certificate. This usually involves using software like Adobe Reader to inspect the certificate details.
Is a scanned notarized document legal?
Are scanned documents legal? Even though you can physically scan a notarized document, this does not necessarily mean the other party is going to accept it. If you are planning on scanning a notarized document, you should reach out to the other party ahead of time to see if he or she will accept it.
What happens if a notary does not witness signature?
In fact, most state notary laws prohibit a notary from notarizing a signature if the signer is not present. Violating the personal presence requirement may result in monetary loss for the client and lead to a lawsuit against the notary or a claim against the notary's bond.
Can white out be used on a notarized document?
Never leave blanks in a Notary certificate
Missing information in the notarial wording was listed by county recorders in California as one of the top reasons notarized documents are rejected by recording offices.
Is notary a high risk business?
Even though statistically, less than 2% of full-time notaries end up in court, the risk of a lawsuit is significant enough to make one want to ensure they have coverage.
Can a notary change their signature?
No. A notary public may not simply “X” out his or her notary signature and seal on a notarial certificate that contains mistakes. Changes to a notarial certificate must be made only at the time of the execution of the notarization when the principal signer is present.
Does an affidavit need a seal?
The notary's seal and signature formally authenticate the affidavit, giving it legal credibility. Courts, government agencies, and businesses will recognize a notarized affidavit as an official sworn statement.
What's the difference between stamp and seal?
Purpose: The main purpose of a company stamp is to imprint the company's logo or name onto documents, while a company seal is used to provide additional authenticity and validation to important legal documents.
Can I handwrite my notary stamp?
If the content is satisfactory and the certificate wording meets the requirements of your state's laws, a handwritten notarial certificate is acceptable.
Is a document legal without the notary stamp?
Some jurisdictions do not require a notary public to stamp the document with their notary stamp in order for the document to be considered legally notarized. The notary stamp on a document makes the document look more official and is preferred if it is available to stamped by a notary public in most cases.
Can you use DocuSign instead of a notary?
The trusted way to remotely and electronically notarize agreements. Docusign Notary is the best fit for organizations that need to notarize many documents per year and can supply their own notary.
Can a notarized document be sent via email?
Please note that RON procedures may vary depending on state laws, and not all states permit Notaries to perform remote online notarizations. For example, California does not permit its Notaries to perform RONs, and South Carolina does not address RON in its Notary laws.
How to tell if a document is legal?
Well, to be considered legally binding, a document must contain the valid signatures of all sides entering into an accord, and also detail the duties and responsibilities each party has to the other. In the business world, you handle dozens upon hundreds of legal documents daily.
How official is a notarized document?
A notarized letter or document is certified by a notary public, a licensed public officer who serves as an impartial witness to the signing of documents and establishes the authenticity of the signatures. A notary's signature and seal are required to authenticate the signature on your letter or legal document.
Do courts verify notarized documents?
No, notarization does not automatically guarantee a document's admissibility in court. While it enhances a document's authenticity, courts consider multiple factors such as relevance, authenticity, and compliance with legal standards before admitting a document as evidence.
Will a notarized letter hold up in court?
There is a huge misconceptions that if individuals go and get a document notarized everything is good, but that is not the case because the notarized document is not a court order, it is an agreement between the parties, but ultimately it cannot be enforced because it is not signed off by a judge.
Does a notary have to read the document they are notarizing?
No, it is not illegal; however, the Notary should not read the documents they notarize because it is unnecessary and could possibly be a violation of the signer's privacy. You may scan over the document to obtain the information you need for your journal entry of the notarization. Confronted with a tricky notarization?
Is a handwritten notarized document legal?
In California, handwritten agreements do not need to be notarized if both signers reside in the state. Using a templated agreement instead of one tailored to the specifics of the agreement may or may not hurt depending on the circumstances surrounding it.